Machine Learning, Big Data analytics, Artificial Intelligence have made the space of DigitalHealth even more interesting. Emerging markets like India are taking on these learning and bringing exciting business models. This blog is about Dr Dass's involvement in such projects and case studies. more on www.healthcursor.com

Monday, 27 February, 2012

Have you ever thought how can Facebook revolutionarize the way healthcare is taught, implemented and delivered in the world??

Can we use Peer Pressure to eliminate Obesity? Diabetes? High Cholesterol?
For a minute, let us understand what is Facebook?

Facebook is a great way to meet friends and keep up on what they are doing. Once you add a friend to your Facebook friend list you will always know when they are adding things to their blog or updating their profile. Users can create profiles with photos, lists of personal interests, contact information, and other personal information. Users can communicate with friends and other users through private or public messages and a chat feature. They can also create and join interest groups and "like pages, some of which are maintained by organizations as a means of advertising.

Why Facebook for mHealth?
It has been found that people are looking for reliable information on healthcare products and services on the worldwide web. Google shows up millions of results but people tend to rely on peer group recommendations only. Social media is most popular amongst information seekers and Facebook was the most popular one (18%), followed by YouTube (12%), Blogs (9%), Twitter (6%). The survey was conducted on 1000 respondents. Overall, nearly a third of respondents, and 50 percent of those under the age of 35, had used social media for healthcare purposes, which can range from registering a complaint to looking up informational videos on YouTube.

What all can be done?
Think of Health Maps, community building, support groups and Health games- where you can throw challenges, earn points and redeem them. Pulswatch- a start-up that has created a GPS powered wearable smart sensor that allows users to set fitness goals, track their workouts and challenge one another to one of four interactive running games which spur continued exercise. For example, the platform’s running game, Chase, pits runners against their friends to match each others’ run times, or chase them down if they get too far ahead. In addition to bragging rights, the winner of the race claims a trophy and PulsWatch points which can be used to purchase additional applications from the PulsWatch store.

How about launching a Facebook currency that is as good as money and can only be redeemed on portals like healthkart.com, Drugstore etc. for buying Healthcare related products/services?

Monday, 13 February, 2012

In the past we have read a lot of
research projects that determine the outcomes based overview of Diabetes
management and the use of remote monitoring tools. We have spoken to
Doctors, technologists as well as equipment
manufacturers and all of these available tools represent a breakthrough for
clinician/patient communication to enhance disease management and improve
health outcomes.

However, for India we were yet to find
out the drivers, challenges, consumer behaviour, expected adoption level and
value add to the end users. Here is a recent study undertaken by
HealthCursor Consulting Group India to understand the DM market better.

SURVEY
questionnaire:

1. If you are given a Glucometer (blood sugar
check machine) for free, will you check your blood sugar daily ?

1)Yes

2)No

2. Your mobile phone will automatically send
this data to your Doctor. Your Doctor will then SMS, EMAIL or call you if your
sugar is not in control. How much you will you easily pay for this service?
(Note: the doctor will not disturb you in case of normal readings.)

1)Rs 1000-2000/month

2)Rs 500-900/month

3)Rs 100-400/month

3. Will you feel more comfortable if you do not
have to do your blood sugar monitoring yourself but a nurse sitting in a nearby
chemist store/pharmacy does it for you? In this case you will have to step out
of your house but will this give you more confidence?

1)Yes, I will feel better if a nurse does that and
I don't mind driving to the chemist store.

2)No, I would like to do it at home myself

4. Are
you using a Glucometer already? Would you mind buying a new Glucometer if that
connects with your phone and transfers your data automatically to the doctor?

1)Yes, I have a Glucometer and Yes, I will buy a
new one if it is the same price as my old one but has advance features like
what is mentioned above.

2)Yes, I have a Glucometer and No, I don't want a
new Glucometer.

3)No, I don't have a Glucometer but Yes, I will
buy a new one if it is the same price as the one available in the market but
has advance features like what is mentioned above

4)No, I don't have a Glucometer but I will only
buy known conventional brands Glucometer and will not trust any advance ones.